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noun

zakat

zuh-KAHT
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Zakat (noun) means In Islam, giving to charity, usually as an annual payment based on certain kinds of property; it is the third of the five pillars of Islam. Example: “Many Muslims pay zakat during Ramadan.”

noun
1
religious In Islam, giving to charity, usually as an annual payment based on certain kinds of property; it is the third of the five pillars of Islam.
"Many Muslims pay zakat during Ramadan."
"The money from zakat goes to people in need."
"She calculated her zakat at the end of the year."

How to use zakat

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe charitable giving that Islam requires of Muslims.

When to use it

It is a religious term, used in discussion of Islamic practice and finance.

Memory tip

It is usually uncountable, so you pay zakat rather than a zakat.

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Common pairings
pay zakat give zakat zakat payment
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Can you complete this real example?

Many Muslims pay _____ during Ramadan.

Etymology

English borrowed the word from Persian, Turkish or Urdu. All of these took it from Arabic, where it means almsgiving or purification, and the Arabic word came from Aramaic.

Origin: Persian

Frequently asked questions

What is zakat?
Zakat is almsgiving in Islam, usually an annual payment on certain kinds of property, used for charitable purposes.
Is zakat one of the five pillars of Islam?
Yes, it is the third of the five pillars.
How do you pronounce zakat?
It is pronounced zuh-KAHT, with the stress on the second syllable.
What is the meaning of zakat?
"zakat" (noun) means in Islam, giving to charity, usually as an annual payment based on certain kinds of property; it is the third of the five pillars of Islam.